Flooding closes a section of Route 123 in the Chipman area. (Submitted/Stacy Mowatt)
Residents in the village of Chipman, east of Fredericton, are feeling a bit isolated these days.
Nearly every road in and out of the community has been cut off by floodwaters.
Tom Gillett, information officer with Chipman EMO, says Route 10 from Fredericton is the only road left open.
“The bridge over the Salmon River in town is still operative,” said Gillett. “We’re going to keep it open until the height of the water on the west side becomes too high for safety.”
If that happens — like it did last year — Gillett said there are contingency plans in place.
Local businesses have brought in extra supplies and a CN Railway bus is stationed in the village.
“If the bridge gets closed, then immediately the rail bus will take effect and shuttle people back and forth across the river,” Gillett said.
Flooding closes a section of Route 116 in the Chipman area. (Submitted/Shelby Drost)
Gillett said the flooding and road closures are also causing problems for drivers being forced off the Trans-Canada Highway, which is closed from Oromocto to River Glade.
Drivers travelling between Fredericton and Moncton have to detour through Saint John via Routes 1 and 7. But Gillett said some GPS units are directing people through the village along Route 10, which would normally be the quickest route.
“They get in as far as Coal Creek and Highway 10 is closed, so they have to turn around and go back,” he said.
Gillett said the village learned a lot after last year’s flood, which left the community isolated for days, and he feels they are better prepared this time around.
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